Engine starter



Sept. 16, 1930. w. L. M GRATH 1,775,323

ENGINE STARTER I Filed Jan. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 CRANK/N6 1 05/ 7' /0/V Inoazzzar I 1M 6 c,

Sept. 16, 1930. w. L. M GRATH 1,775,823

ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 70%663 4 Mu Mm Z Z M Sept. 16, 1930. w. L. MCGRATH ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 5 Shoots-$heet 3 inc/372267 W5 4;, J M Mam Va;

Sept. 16, 1930. w, McGRATH 1,775,823

' ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 16, 1930. w. L. McGRATH 1,775,823

ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 4, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wwws M @144. M, M NQhwg 7 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAML. MCGRATH, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO ECLIPSE MACHINE COE- PANY, OI ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ENGINE STARTER Application filed January 4, 1923. Serial No. 610,672.

My invention has relation to means for starting or cranking an engine such as an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to that part of an engine startersystem known as the drive or transmission which transmits the power of a prime mover such as an electric motor to a part or member of the engine to be started such as the fly-wheel thereof. The'object of my invention is to provide a simple and eificient drive ortransmissionwhich is capable of manual operation for engagement with the engine member and of automatic disengagement. My drive contains novel features of construction resulting in novel operations and results, which will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section of an engine starter system embodying my invention, showing the parts in normal disengaged position; Fig. 2 a similar view but showing. the parts in cranking position; Fig. 3- another similar View but showing the position of the parts with the engine started and the starting motor still rotating; Fig. 4 a sectional elevation of the drive or transmission as appliedto the extended armature shaft of an electric motor; Fig. 5 a view similar to that of Fig. 4 but viewing the drive from a different angle; Fig. 6 an elevation of one end of the imon; Fig. 7 a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fi 8 a cross section on the line 8-8 of Fi 5; i 9 an elevation of a starter system i lustrating my invention embodied in a modified form of construction; Fig. 10 a sectional elevation of the modified form, showing the parts in normal disen aged position; Fig. 11 a similar view but s owing the parts in the cranking position; Fig. 12 a similar view showing the parts in the position after starting the engine and with the shifter connectlon-still in operated position and the motor still running; and Fig. 13 an end view of the pinion.

For the purpose of a clear and definite disclosure of my invention, I have shown the same embodied in two structures, one being illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 and the other in Figs. 9 to 13, but it will be understood that the same may be embodied in structures of somewhat different formation and arrange ment, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. It will also be understood that while I have shown my invention as applied to the so-called inboard type ofdrive the same may be applied to the outboard type of drive. Further it will be understood that while I have shown my invention embodied in that type'of drive known as the direct-drive, in which the drive is connected with the extended armature shaft of an electric motor, my invention is also ap licable to the indirect drive in which the d 'i'ive or transmission is connected with a countershaft driven by the armature shaft.

Referring to the particular embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, the prime mover is an electric motor 1 provided with an extended armature shaft 2. This motor is provided with a suitable switch 3'and its usual electrical connections.

The drive or transmission is formed as an assembly which is readily applied to and detachable from the extended armature shaft. This drive assembly comprises, in the present instance, a sleeve 4 secured to the armature shaft in a suitable manner as by means of a pin 5, and also comprises a hollow shaft 6 longitudinal spline or splines 7 and provided at its inner end with suitable stop means such as a nut 9. This screw shaft at its outer end is provided with or formed as an enlarged head 10 with a circumferential groove 11, to cooperate with the shifting means hereinafter described. It will be understood that the sleeve 4 is not essentially a separate element except where required for assembly purposes. It will be understood that the splines 7 instead of bein formed or provided on the armature shaft itself may be carriedbya separate sleeve secured to a plain armature shaftlgi' Upon the screw threaded portion of the shaft, there is mounted for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement therewith a driving member which is here in the form of a pinion 12. This pinion is adapted to mesh with the member of the engine to b so" at its middle portion with screw threads 8 and a a started which is here the fly-wheel 13 of an internal combustion engine.

Suitable means are provided in the screw shaft for holding the pinion in a retracted formed in the screw shaft and is pivoted intermediate its length by means of a pin 16. The latch is spring pressed downwardly as to its outer end by means of a plunger 17' backed up by a spring 18, which lunger and spring are located in a radial c amber 19 in the head 10. This chamber is closed at its outer end by the screw plug 20. The outer end of the latch, therefore, tends to move downwardly and its inner end upwardly to a position corresponding to the screw threads 8 to thereby engage with the longitudinal slot 21 formed in the bore of the pinion, as shown in Fig. 7. The tendency of the latch to assume said position is normally restrained by the surface 22 formed on the sleeve 4with the result that when the drive is in normal disengaged position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the forward end of the latch is held in inoperative position, that is, en-

tirel' i' below the inside diameter of the screw However, when the screw shaft threads 8. is moved longitudinally inwardly so that the latch rides off of the sleeve 4, the spring pressed plungerl? will force the outer end of the latch inwardly and the forward end of the latch outwardly to operative position. When the screw shaft is shifted outwardly longitudinally, the outer curved end of the latch will ride up upon the beveled surface 23 and on to the surface 22 of the sleeve 4.

The screw threads are in the present instance provided with along lead so that in case the pinion teeth do not register with the fiy-wheel teeth, but such teeth should abut end to end, the screw shaft will continue to move inwardly, notwithstanding the arrest of the longitudinal movement of the pinion, and such pinion will thereupon be moved slightly rotarily and will mesh with the fly-wheel. The normal position of the.

inionis its outward position as shown in igs. 1, 2 and 4, at which time it is in contact with the stop nut 9, and such pinion is held in this normal position with a yieldin pressure which in this instance is due to a light coil compression spring 24, encircling the screw shaft and interposed between the pinion and the head 10 of such shaft.

For manually shifting the drive into engagement with the fly-wheel, I em loy operating connections between a suitab e plunger 25, operated by hand or foot, and the head 10 of the drive. As shown, these operating connections comprise a bell crank with one arm 26 contacted by the plunger 25 and adapted to contact and operate the button of the electric switch 3. This bell crank is here shown as pivoted at 27 upon a' plate or bracket 28 which is secured to the frame of the motor 1, the bell crank being retained in normal position by means of the coil spring 29. The other arm 80 of the bell crank is connected by a rod 31 with a depending lever 32 pivoted stationarily at 33 and provided at its lower end withsuitable rollers or antifriction devices. These rollers engage the groove 11 of the head 10 of the screw shaft and cause the shifting or reciprocation of such shaft or drive assembly in both directions.

Describing a cycle of operation and be,- ginning with the parts in their normal position as shown in Fig. 1, the operatoror inwardly and just as the pinion has been fully meshed with the fly-wheel, the plunger and bell crank cause a depression and actu-' ation of the button ofthe switch 3, where-.

upon the electric motor is operated and the fly-wheel is rotated by the pinion. The torque is transmitted from the armature shaft through the splines 7 screw shaft 8 and thence to the pinion 12. The parts are now in the cranking position shown in 'Fig. 2, at which time the forward or inner end of the latch 14is in its raised position co-incident with the screw threads 8.

When the engine operates under its own power, the operator should release the plunger 25 with the result that the drive assembly and the operating connections will be restored to normal position. In such restoration of parts, the demeshing of the pinion from the fly-wheel is facilitated in an autothe construction is such that no damage to the drive will result. In such event, the screw shaft will retain its operated or shifted position and the pinion will be automatically demeshed, whereupon the parts will have the position illustrated in 3. When the pinion is thus demeshed and screwed backwardlv along the screw shaft and comes within the range of action of the latch 14, such latch will be engaged by the slot 21 in the pinion and such pinion and shaft will be held together forrotary'movement' in unison. As a result, the pinion is prevented from longitudinal movement with respect to the screw shaft and consequently even though the starting motor and the screw shaft are still rotating, it is impossiblefor the pinion to be advanced longitudinally into mesh again with the fly-wheel. When the operator then releases the plunger 25, the screw shaft will be shifted outwardly to normal position and when in such longitudinal position the surfaces 22 and 23 of the sleeve are presented to the outer end of the latch, such latch will be operated to release it from the pinion. The pinion is thereupon permitted to move spirally along the screw shaft and against the stop nut by reason of the provision of the compression spring24, the lead of the threads 8 bein such'as to permit of such splral action 0 the pinion when pressed in a longitudinal direction by the light spring 24 In Figs. 9 to 13, I have shown a modified form of construction in which similar parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals. The construction is substantially the same as that previously described but the drive is applied to a vertically disposed electric motor that is to a motor whose armature shaft is arrange-d in a vertical position, the pinion or driving member of the drive in such case reei rocating with teeth .on one face of the fly-w eel instead of the periphery thereof. The construction of the drive differs in the omission of the spring 24whose function of holding the pinion yieldingly in a normal position, is performed by gravity. Referring to the modified form of construction the electric motor 36 which is ,vertically disposed is supported in suitable manner, as for .instance upon the internal combustion engine 37, being secured thereto by means of the bolts 38. The vertical armature shaft 39 is extended and depends below the motor. The motor is provided with the usual switch 40 and switch button 41, here shown on one side of the motor frame, and also with suitable electrical connections or circuits, not necessary to be shown.

The drive or transmission is an assembly which is mounted upon the extended arma-' ture shaft 39. As shown this drive is enclosed within casing 42 secured to. and depending from the lower end' of the motor frame, which casing'has a side "opening at its lowerend at 43 in position to register with the circular rack of teeth 44 secured or formed upon the rear face of the engine memher which is here the fly-wheel 45 of the engine. -The armature shaft 39 extends the full length of the casing 42 and is journaled in the bearing 46 at the lower end of such casing. This shaft has three different diameters. forming three different portions, to-wit, a long outer portion 47 a rear portion or head 48 and an intermediate portion 49. At the junction of these two portions 48 and 49 the e is a circumferential beveled portion 50.

The drive proper is readily attachable to and detachable from the armature shaft 39 and is driven thereby and also capable of a longitudinal movement thereon. The construction andoperation of this drive is substantially the same as the drive previously described, except that the gravity of the piniori takes the place of the compression s ring 24 of the first described construction. l Iowever, in the present instance the manual or pedal operated connections are somewhat difl'erent. .In the present instance I have shown a pedal operation but it will be understood that I use the term manual in the claims in its generic sense as including both manual and edal operations.

As shown in Fig. 9 a plunger 51 extends through the floor board 52 of the automobile to which I have for convenience shown the starter system applied. This plunger reciprocates in the bearings 53 and 54 and is normally held upwardly pressed by the coil spring 55. It is provided with a radially ex tending arm 56 adapted to contact and operate the switch button 41- when such plunger is depressed by the operator or driver. This plunger is operatively connected b a yielding lost motion connection with a ll crank comprising an arm 57 loosely connected witl the plunger and another arm 58 projecting into the casing 42 and operatively engaging. the drive. This bell crank is pivoted at 59 to a bracket 60 extending from one side of the casing 42. A spring 61 is interposed between a collar 62 rigidly mounted on the plunger 51 and the arm 57 and acts as a part of the lost motion connection.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with the parts in their normal position shown in Figs. 9 and 10,the operator first depresses the plunger 51 thereby causing the shifter connections to shift the screw shaft downwardly upon the armature shaft. the pinion 20 being of course lowered at the same time. After the screw shaft has reached its lower limit of'moven'ient, the plunger 51, being permitted to move further bythe spring 61 causes the contact arm 56 to operate the switch. thereby energizing the motor. Upon the rotation of the armature shaft. the screw shaft is rotated through its splined connection therewith and as the pinion is now in mesh with the teeth 44 of the flywheel as shown in Fig. 11 such flywheel is rotated and the engine is cranked.

When the engine starts on its own power, the operator should release the plunger 5]. which will cause a. retraction of the entir e drive assembly, and the demeshing of the pinion will be facilitated'by its threaded connection with the screw shaft, with the result that the pinion will be screwed back-- wardly or upwardly along the screw shaft in this demeshing operation. However, if the operator should fail to release the plunger 51, when the engine starts on its own in retractedpositi'on in the same manner. as hereinbefore described in respect to the first form of drive. The position of the parts under this conditionis illustrated in Fig. 12,

Then when the operator finally releases thev against the stop nut 9, thereby assuming the position shown in Fig. 10; It is under-- stood that the pinion is held slightly above the fly-wheel teeth as shown and in position for repetition of the cycle'of operation above described;

In the event that the pinion teeth and the fly-wheel teeth should notregister when the screw shaft is lowered as described, the pinion will be arrested in its downward movement'and the screw shaft, owing tothe long lead of thethreads, will continue to move downwardly, relatively to the "pinion, with the result that the pinion will be rotated slightly, which will cause register with the fly-Wheel teeth. 1 I claim: 1. 'Anengine starter drive comprising a rotatable'shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the exterior of the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof, for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for bodilyshifting the sleeve and driving member longitudinally on said shaft, and means for holding the driving member in a disengaged position after being disengaged from the engine member. and

means controlled by the position of fthe' sleeve relative to the shaft for releasing said holding means.' i

2. An engine starter drive comprising rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving mem-' ber mounted upon the exterior of the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof, for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member longitudinally on said shaft, and; means for holding the driving member in a disengaged position after being disengaged from the engine member, said holding means comprising a latch mounted on the sleeve and adapted to engage said driving member and also cooperating with the shaft. f

3. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted on the sleeve for rotary move- "ment therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with' a member of the engine to be started, means for bodily shiftingthe sleeve and driving memberlongitu'dinally on said shaft, said sleeve having at one end means for stopping the longitudinal movement of the driving member in one direction, and the driving memher being normally positioned against said stop means, and means movable with respect to the sleeve to operative or inoperative position and controlled by the position of the sleeve relative to the shaft for holding the. driving member in retracted position on such sleeve. s

4. An engine starterdrive comprising a rot-atalole screw shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, means for bodily shifting the shaft and-its pinion in a forward longitudinal direction to cause engagement between the pinion and a member of the engine to be started, the screw thread of the shaft having a longlead whereby longitudinal pressure on the pinion causes rotation thereof'to produce register between such pinion and engine member, said pinion being rotativel free to follow said screw-threads and yiel ingly held to its normal position at the forward end of such screw threads;

5. An engine starter drive comprisin a rotatable screw shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, means for bodily shifting the shaft and its pinion in a forward longitudinal direction to cause engagement between the pinion and a member of the engine toibe started, the screw thread o'f the shaft having a long lead whereby lonb 0 ngitudinal pressure on the pinion causes rota- ,tion thereof to produce register between such pinion and en me member, and a s ring rotatively free rom sald pinion an tending to restore the pinion to its normal position at the forward end of such screw threads.

, 6. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable screw shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, means for bodily shifting the shaft and its pinion in a forward longitudinal direction to cause engagement between the pinion and a member of the engine to be started, and a com ression spring encircling the shaft and bearing against but rotatively free from the pinion to hold the latter to its normal positlon at the forward end of the screw threads of such shaft, said threads being long lead whereby longitudinal pressure on the pinion causes rotation thereof to produce register between such pinion and engine member.

tatable sha t, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the exterior of the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with'a member of the engine to be started, said sleeve having at one end means for stopping the longitudinal movement of the driving member in one direction, and the driving member being normally positioned against said stop means, means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member longitudinally on said shaft and means for acting on the driving member to hold it in a retracted position after being disengaged from the engine member, said holding means being mounted wholly upon the sleeve. I

8. An engine .starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the exterior of the, sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, said sleeve having at one end means for stop- .ping the .longitudinal movement of the driving member in one direction. and the driving member -being normally ositioned against said stop means, means or bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member longitudinally on said shaft and means for acting .on the driving member to hold it in a retracted position after being disengaged from the engine member. said holding means comprisingva latch, said sleeve having a slot in which the latch is pivoted. and through which itprojects, and said shaft having a contact surface for controlling the action of said latch. I t

9. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable shaft. a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the exterior of the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, said sleeve having at one end means for stopping the longitudinal movement of the driving member in one directign, and the driving member being normally positioned against said stop means, means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member longitudinally on said shaftand means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member longitudinally on said shaft and means for acting on the driving member to hold it in a retracted position after being disengaged from the engine member, said holding-means comprising a latch, said sleeve having a slot in which thelatch is pivoted and through which it projects, and said shaft having a beveled contact surface located adjacent the other end of the sleeve for disabling said ber of the engine to be started, said shaft having a longitudinal slot at the rearward end of its screw threads, and a latch pivoted in such slot and adapted to engage the pinion.

11. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable screw shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, means for bodily shifting the shaft and its pinion in a forward longitudinal direction to cause engagement between the pinion and a member of the engine to be started, said shaft having a longitudinal slot at the rearward end of its screw threads, and a latch pivoted in such slot and adapted to engage the pinion, the forward end of said latch tending to be held with a yielding pressure to a position coincident with the screw threads to thereby en gage the pinion.

. 12. An engine starter drive comprising a rotatable screw' shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, means for bodily shifting the shaft and its pinion in a forwardlongitudinal direction to cause engagement between the pinion and a member of the engine to be started, said shaft having a longitudinal slot at the rearward end of its screw threads, and a latch pivoted in such slot, said pinion having in its base a longitudinal slot engaged by such latch.

13. An engine starter drive comprisin a rotatable screw shaft, a pinion threaded thereon for longitudinal movement thereon and rotary movement therewith, means for bodily shifting the shaft and its pinion in a forward longitudinal direction to cause engagement between the pinion and a member .of the engine to be started, said shaft having a longitudinal slot at the rearward end of its screw threads, a latch pivoted in such slot and adapted to engage the pinion and a sprin acting oiPthe latch to hold one end thereo outside the slot to engage the pinion.

14. An engine starter drive including a rotatableshaft, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member upon the shaft, and means acting on the driving member for holding it in a retracted position with res ect to,-th'e engine member and sleeve, and or releasing it, said holding means being mounted upon the sleeve and ada ted to engage the driving member to hold it in retracted position and cooperating with the shaft for the disengagement of such means from the driving member.

15. An engine starter drive including a rov tetahle shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide there on and-driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal movement thereof for engagement with a, member of the engine to be started means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member upon the shaft and means acting on the driving member for holding it in a retracted position with respect to the engine member and sleeve, and for releasing it, said holding means comprising a latch pivoted upon the sleeve and cooperating with the driving member to hold it retracted and with the shaft for disengagement purposes.

16.. An engine starter drive including a rotatahle shaft, a sleeve mounted to slide thereon and driven thereby, a driving member mounted upon the sleeve for rotary movement therewith and for longitudinal move ment thereof for engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for bodily shifting the sleeve and driving member upon the shaft, and means acting on the driving member for holding it in a retracted position with respect to the engine member and sleeve, end for releasing it, said sleeve having a slot, and said holding means c0m-. prisin a, latch pivoted in its slot and cooperating with the driving member and with the shaft.

WHJLIAM Li MoG'RATI-l.

nweeee 

